Latest News on Iran’s Internet Blackout (Jan 2026)
Internet Blackout in Iran: A Full Breakdown of What’s Happening
What Is the Blackout?
In early January 2026, Iran’s authorities imposed a near-total internet shutdown that cut off most of the country from global online services. The blackout began on 8–9 January and has affected the entire population of over 90 million people, making it one of the longest and most severe shut-offs in recent history.
National and international access dropped sharply: websites timed out, phone data stopped, and SMS and international calls were heavily disrupted. Connectivity globally was reduced to around 1 % of normal, according to monitoring groups tracking the outage.
Why Did Iran Shut Down the Internet?
Iran’s government says the blackout is necessary for national security and public order amid widespread unrest. It was imposed as mass protests spread across cities and authorities attempted to limit communication and the spread of protest coordination online.
However, multiple independent sources — including digital freedom watchdogs — state that the blackout’s primary motive appears to be controlling information and limiting awareness of the growing protests and crackdowns.
Context: Protests and Crackdown
Mass demonstrations erupted in late December 2025 over worsening economic conditions, inflation, and political dissatisfaction with the ruling system. These protests then broadened into a more general anti-government movement across many provinces.
The blackout coincided with some of the harshest state responses in decades. Reports indicate a deadly crackdown with thousands killed and hundreds of thousands injured, though exact figures vary widely by source.
How the Blackout Worked
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Near-total shutdown: Most global internet traffic in Iran dropped to nearly zero.
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Phone networks affected: Mobile internet and texts were disrupted across major cities like Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan and others.
Satellite internet jamming: Even satellite services like Starlink were reportedly disrupted using sophisticated jamming technology.
Filtered domestic access: Domestic Iranian networks and state-approved services remained intermittently available, a tactic to maintain official communication while blocking external scrutiny.
Cutting Off Information
Digital rights organisations and press freedom groups criticise the blackout as a tactic to conceal human rights abuses. Human Rights Watch has said that the blackout helped hide patterns of violence and made it harder for independent media to report on events.
Longest Blackouts — Not the First Time
Iran has used such internet interruptions before:
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2019 Blackout during protests over fuel price hikes.
2022 communications curbs following major unrest.
June 2025 Block during conflict with Israel, another extremely severe shutdown.
These repeated shutdowns have made Iran one of the countries with the highest total hours of internet suppression globally since 2018.
International and Domestic Impact
Information flow: The blackout severely restricted Iranians from sharing news with the outside world and impeded foreign journalists.
Human rights concerns: Rights groups are demanding accountability and an end to practices that isolate populations during moments of civil unrest.
Are Services Being Restored?
On 19 January 2026, Iranian lawmakers signaled that internet services might gradually return, but with significant filtering and restrictions. Partial domestic connectivity — sometimes referred to as “filternet” — was reportedly active.
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